Penrith and Eastwood have both overcome higher ranked opponents as Friday Night Football kicked off local derby round in the Tooheys New Shute Shield at Western Weekender Stadium, St Marys.

The Emus and the Woodies both overcame half-time deficits to score important round 11 victories.

PENRITH V PARRAMATTA AT WESTERN WEEKENDER STADIUM

Penrith recorded just their second victory of the 2008 season, defeating arch rivals Parramatta 26-24 at Western Weekender Stadium.

Hosting the western Sydney double header, the Emus kept pace with the Two Blues in the first half, going to the break trailing 17-14.

Both sides scored two converted tries in the opening stanza, with an Aaron Mattin penalty the only difference between the two sides.

It was Penrith who came out firing in the second half, dominating play to take the lead and then score a bonus point fourth try to extend to a 26-17 advantage.

Parramatta scored a consolation converted try to narrow the gap and earn a bonus point, however it wasn’t enough to overcome the impressive Emus.
Penrith 26 (Adam Parbery, Patrick Mekuri, Sia’a Taveuveu, Solomono Fainifo tries; Brendan Craig 3 cons) d Parramatta 24 (Brian Sefanaia 2, Andrew Cox tries; Aaron Mattin 3 cons, pen) at Western Weekender Stadium. Half-time: Parramatta 17-14. Referee: Steve Hardy

EASTWOOD V WEST HARBOUR AT WESTERN WEEKENDER STADIUM

Eastwood has come from behind to defeat West Harbour 42-29 in their local derby clash at Western Weekender Stadium.

Trailing 17-15 at half-time, the Woodies scored three second half tries to run away with a 13-point victory over their higher ranked opponents, and at least temporarily elevate themselves into the top six.

Eastwood were buoyed by the return of Lachie Turner who was released from Wallaby duty to take on the Pirates, however the dominant performance in the forwards was telling with the pack scoring four of the Woodies’ five tries.

West Harbour earned a bonus point to join Gordon in equal second on the table, Nick Reily and John Sinisa each scoring a double. Sinisa’s brace of tries brings his season tally to 13, equal with Randwick’s leading tryscorer Ratu Nasiganiyavi.
Eastwood 42 (Damien Fitzpatrick, Marty Wilson, Phil Mathers, Seva Rokobaro, Tim Corcoran tries; Ben Batger 4 cons, 3 pens) d West Harbour 29 (Nick Reily 2, John Sinisa 2 tries; Ben Martin 3 cons, pen) at Western Weekender Stadium. Referee: Angus Gardner

The remaining four matches in Round 11 of the Tooheys New Shute Shield will be played on Saturday afternoon.

---